Emergency light in a multilevel aeroplane

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an aeroplane comprising several decks which are arranged above each other, for passengers, freight and/or crew members, also comprising at least one staircase connected to the decks. Said aeroplane is characterized in that the staircase is provided with photoluminescent markings which enable the staircase to be recognized easily, even in poor lighting conditions, whereby orientation of passengers and crew members to exit is made easier in the event of an emergency.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an airplane having a plurality of decks,arranged one on top of the other, for passengers, freight and/or crewand at least one staircase connecting the decks.

It is known in airplanes to arrange luminaires in a line in the aisles,said luminaires being switched on in the event of emergency in order toshow the passengers the way to the emergency exit. Although thesesystems are supplied by a separate emergency battery such that themarkers operate even in the event of a failure of the general on-boardelectrical system, the emergency power supply may also be disrupted,with the result that the markers can no longer be switched on in theevent of an emergency. It is also possible for sections of the markersto be incapable of being operated, which makes it necessary for them tobe replaced before the airplane is started, which in turn results inlate starts and delays.

It is known, in order to avoid these disadvantages, to attachfluorescent strips or rails using photoluminescent substances to thefloor at the sides of the aisles, and these fluorescent strips or railscan, in the event of an emergency, point the passengers in the directionof the exit even when there is a failure of the electrical system of theairplane (EP 0 828 657 B1). The photoluminescent materials have theproperty of remaining lit themselves even for some time after they areno longer illuminated.

An airplane is known which has a plurality of decks, arranged one on topof the other, for passengers, freight and/or crew and at least onestaircase, which connects the decks and is provided withphotoluminescent rail- or strip-like markers which are arranged on bothsides of the staircase steps at the lateral ends thereof (U.S. Pat. No.5,7756,016).

The invention is based on the object of equipping an airplane of thetype mentioned initially such that all of the passengers/crew members,i.e. even passengers and crew members who are located on differentdecks, can safely find the way to an emergency exit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The solution according to the invention comprises linear markers, whichcan be seen from above and are essentially uninterrupted, being arrangedat the sides of the steps, following the ascent of the staircase. Theseinclined, straight markers guide the passengers in the correct directionand have a particularly psychologically favorable effect. At the sametime, the passengers recognize two different converging lines or groupsof lines even in emergency situations and poor visual conditions, thecontinuous markers and the markers arranged on the staircase steps beingarranged at an angle with respect to one another if both the markers atthe lateral ends of the steps and the markers following straight slopesof the ascent of the steps are provided. The passenger thus immediatelyrecognizes that the markers relate to a staircase and not to, forexample, an aisle. This may also be quite important if the airplane isno longer horizontally aligned after an accident.

In the event of smoke, fire or other situations causing panic, it isnaturally very important to guide the passengers as safely as possibleto the exit. In this case, the measure which goes beyond that of theprior art and the importance of which is at first perhaps not fullyrecognized may be of quite critical importance.

If the staircase has a landing, markers are expediently also provided inthe region of the landing.

It may also be expedient to use markers having different colors andluminosity. Using such other types of markers, it is possible, forexample, to indicate the start of the staircase, the end of thestaircase or a landing.

The invention may be used, as mentioned, in staircases with or without alanding. They can be used not only in staircases which are straight butalso in spiral staircases. In this case, one continuous, lateral markeris provided at the outer periphery of the staircase, and the otheruninterrupted marker is provided on the column of the spiral staircase.

Indicators such as arrows, other symbols or writing such as “EXIT”,“STAIRS” and the like are expediently provided on the markers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described by way of example below with referenceto advantageous embodiments and with reference to the attached drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a section of a staircase arranged inan airplane; and

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of such a staircase.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The staircase shown in FIG. 1, which connects two decks, indicated by 7,has side walls 1, between which the steps 2 of the staircase arearranged. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the walls 1 protrude beyondthe steps 2 at the top. Banisters 3 are fixed to said walls 1.Strip-like, photoluminescent markers 4 are fitted on the upper edges ofthe walls 1. These photoluminescent markers 4 “become charged” withlight during normal operation of the airplane when the lighting systemin the airplane is switched on. If the lighting system is switched offor if it fails, such as in the event of an emergency, thephotoluminescent markers have the property of continuing to illuminatefor a certain period of time, such that they can show passengers the wayto the exit.

The markers 4 need not be arranged at the top but may also be arrangedinside on the wall 1. However, markers 4 are not only provided on thewalls 1 but also on the lateral ends of the steps 2. These markers areindicated by the reference numeral 5 in FIG. 1. The markers 4 running ina straight line and descending at an angle form an angle with themarkers 5 arranged on the steps 2, with the result that the passengercan immediately recognize the fact that they relate to a staircase.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the staircase also has a landing 6 inaddition to the steps 2. Both the steps 2 and the landing 6 are in thiscase indicated by lateral photoluminescent markers 5. In this case, themarkers 5 have another color and/or luminosity in the region of thelanding 6, which is indicated in FIG. 2 by a dashed line. Thisdifference in the color and/or the luminosity makes it clearer thatthere is a landing here. Precisely in the event of an emergency in whichthere is a stressful situation or even one inducing panic, thisparticular feature is of particular importance. 8 denotes indicatorssuch as arrows, writing and the like on the markers 5.

1. In an airplane having a plurality of decks, arranged one on top ofthe other, and at least one staircase, which connects the decks, a firstset of photoluminescent strip-like markers arranged on both sides of thestaircase steps at the lateral ends thereof, and a second set ofphotoluminescent strip-like markers which can be seen from above and areessentially uninterrupted, arranged at the sides of the steps, followingthe ascent of the staircase.
 2. In the airplane as claimed in claim 1,wherein the staircase has a landing, and photoluminescent markers areprovided in the region of the landing.
 3. In the airplane as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the markers have different colors.
 4. In the airplaneas claimed in claim 1, wherein the markers have indicators selected fromthe group consisting of arrows, symbols and writing.
 5. In the airplaneas claimed in claim 2, wherein the markers have different colors.
 6. Inthe airplane as claimed in claim 2, wherein the markers have indicatorsselected from the group consisting of arrows, symbols and writing.
 7. Inthe airplane as claimed in claim 3, wherein the markers have indicatorsselected from the group consisting of arrows, symbols and writing.
 8. Inthe airplane as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the markershave indicators selected from the group consisting of arrows, symbolsand writing.
 9. In the airplane as claimed in claim 1, wherein themarkers have different luminosity.
 10. In the airplane as claimed inclaim 2, wherein the markers have different luminosity.
 11. In theairplane as claimed in claim 9, wherein the markers have indicatorsselected from the group consisting of arrows, symbols and writing. 12.In the airplane as claimed in claim 10, wherein the markers haveindicators selected from the group consisting of arrows, symbols andwriting.
 13. In the airplane as claimed in claim 3, wherein markershaving different luminosity are used.
 14. In the airplane as claimed inclaim 5, wherein markers having different luminosity are used.
 15. In anairplane having a plurality of decks, arranged one on top of the other,and at least one staircase, which connects the decks, said staircaseincluding a pair of opposed side walls and steps extending therebetween, photoluminescent strip-like markers arranged on both sides ofthe staircase steps at the lateral ends thereof, and photoluminescentstrip-like markers descending down said staircase and forming an anglewith said markers on said stairs, said markers descending down saidstaircase being on said side wall.
 16. In an airplane as claimed inclaim 15, wherein there are two opposed sets of markers descending downsaid staircase, one on each side wall.
 17. In the airplane as claimed inclaim 16, wherein said descending markers are on said top of each sideof said side wall.
 18. In the airplane as claimed in claim 15, whereinsaid descending markers descend in a straight line.